I bore the bruises and screams
and shattered inside
believing that it was my fault
for being battered to resemble a bruised peach,
berated to resemble an infected wound.
I tried to shield my frightened heart
from his prey like stature
and sadistic mind;
but he was clever,
he didn't let his barbaric hatred get in the way
instead
he repeated the broken promise of love
and abused my battered body
until I could not take the pain
and crumbled into a small bird
with no wings.